Former Kelowna mayor Colin Basran has been charged with sex assault.

The BC Prosecution Service has announced Basran has been charged with one count of sex assault in relation to an incident in the city on May 11, 2022, while he was the sitting mayor.

The investigation into the alleged sex assault was led by the Kelowna RCMP, which turned over the file to the Nelson Police Department for an independent review, before the case was sent to the Crown.

Special prosecutor Brock Martland K.C. was appointed to manage the case. Special prosecutors are appointed in the case to “avoid any potential for real or perceived improper influence in the administration of justice considering the nature of the allegations and the identity of the accused as an elected municipal official.”

Martland is a senior Vancouver lawyer in private practice and has been given a mandate to provide legal advice to the RCMP investigators, conduct charge assessment and now lead the prosecution.

Basran’s first court appearance is Jan. 24, 2023 in Kelowna. The charge was just sworn on Wednesday morning. Details of the allegations are not known.

He lost re-election to current Kelowna mayor Tom Dyas on Oct. 15.

When reached for comment, Kelowna city manager Doug Gilchrist said the city will not be commenting on the charge.

Since the matter is now before the courts, he said it would not be appropriate for the city to comment.